Soil pollution: types and causes of environmental problems, consequences

Soil pollution is the ingress of various chemicals, radioactive elements, microorganisms into its structure in large volumes. Most often, lands are polluted with heavy metals, organic compounds, s alts. As a result, the structure of the soil is disturbed. This entails serious consequences for the environment and negatively affects people's he alth.

What is soil pollution

Most often, soil pollution is understood as a type of anthropogenic soil degradation, in which the amount of chemicals exceeds the natural level of their content.This is a general description of the problem. Indeed, most often it is associated with human activities. However, sometimes the pollution of fertile soils is also due to the influence of natural factors.

Types and sources of soil pollution

Today, many sources of soil pollution are known. Each of them has certain characteristics and leads to specific consequences.

Industrial waste and emissions

A common factor that causes soil pollution is the dumping of industrial waste into it. The most common causes of problems are:

• chlorinated industrial solvents;
• dioxins - emitted during the incineration of waste and in the manufacture of pesticides;
• plasticizers;
• polychlorinated biphenyls.

The oil industry generates a large amount of petroleum hydrocarbon waste. Some of them are carcinogenic. Such substances, in particular, include benzene and methylbenzene.

Heat power companies

To generate heat and energy, enterprises use oil, coal, and gas. The combustion of these products is accompanied by the production of slag, soot, fly ash, and sulfur oxide. It is also possible to release gaseous substances of incomplete combustion. All these elements lead to air pollution.

During the combustion of coal, ash appears, which includes heavy metals. Zooslag dumps cause soil poisoning and saturate it with dangerous elements. Thermal power plants are considered the main pollutants of the soil.

Vehicle exhaust

Automotive combustion engines produce hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Heavy metals, in particular lead, enter the air with exhaust gases. Hazardous substances accumulate along the roads and concentrate in the ground. As a result, there are difficulties in using these lands for cultivation of cultivated plants.

Household waste

Tons of rubbish and household waste end up in city landfills every day. Soil contamination with heavy metals is due to violation of the rules for the disposal of batteries, thermometers, and lamps containing mercury. These substances do not decompose, but accumulate in the soil. This leads to an increase in background radiation.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture

To increase yield parameters, farmers use fertilizers. These substances stimulate the growth of fruits, but can cause soil depletion. This is due to the artificial composition of fertilizers. Concentrated growth stimulants are often added to their composition. An increase in their content in the soil provokes the production of nitrates, nitrites and other hazardous substances.

Also, toxic substances can accumulate in the ground, which are used to control pests. Such elements pose a great danger to all living organisms, including earthworms and insects, which saturate the soil with valuable substances.

Wastewater used to irrigate fields

All waste and sewer water is purified. However, this does not guarantee the receipt of perfectly clean water, which is safe for the environment. It still contains a lot of industrial waste.

Liquid from reservoirs into which sewage enters is often used to irrigate fields. This provokes an increase in the level of hazardous chemical elements in the soil layers.

Oil leak

During the production and transportation of petroleum products, hazardous substances can enter the ground in large quantities. Gradually, they seep into the soil structure and groundwater.

Harmful elements impregnate the earth and exacerbate its pollution with oil products. As a result, the affected areas become unsuitable for subsequent use, and water is a danger to people.

Acid rain

Man's industrial activities lead to the appearance of acid rain. The evaporation of an increased volume of chemical elements and their entry into the atmosphere causes their accumulation. During precipitation, hazardous substances fall back into the ground.

Chemical rain can have serious consequences for soil and plants. Such precipitation changes the biological structure of the soil, making it unsuitable for subsequent use.

Natural sources

The causes of environmental problems can be the weathering of mountains, the overflow of rivers, the eruption of volcanoes. All these natural phenomena cause pollution of the soil layer of the soil. However, nature itself can eliminate the negative effects of natural disasters.

Other reasons

Military actions can lead to soil pollution. Weapon tests are also often the cause of problems. There are many poisonous components in the composition of modern combat projectiles.

The main task of such a projectile is considered to be the mass destruction of enemies in impressive territories. The use of weapons leads to the death of all living things in the zone of its action. As a result, degradation of the soil layer occurs.

Possible consequences

Unfavorable changes in soil composition and soil degradation provoke dangerous consequences for people and the environment. Therefore, destruction and destruction of lands must not be allowed.

The main hazards associated with soil pollution include the following:

1. Congenital and chronic pathologies. Soil depletion causes nutrient deficiencies. In this case, in plants there is a violation of the production of useful elements. As a result, the human body does not receive the substances necessary for its normal functioning, which leads to various failures. This often provokes the development of diseases that are characteristic of entire territories. So, in Russia there are regions in which people suffer from a deficiency of potassium, calcium, vitamins C and D. This leads to the appearance of birth defects in children. In addition, a lack of vitamin D causes a violation of the absorption of potassium and calcium, making the bones more fragile.
2. Influence on plants. Cultures are considered an intermediate link through which dangerous elements enter the human body, provoking intoxication. The impoverishment of the soil layer is considered no less dangerous. Plants do not receive enough nutrients, which provokes a metabolic disorder in cells. Soil contamination can cause crop mutation. A high concentration of toxic elements provokes a decrease in the ability of plants to produce crops and multiply. It also has a negative impact on food safety.
3. Soil erosion. The destruction of the soil layer occurs under the influence of wind and water masses. Precipitation streams wash out useful elements from the upper layers of the soil. As a result, its composition becomes more scarce. Under the influence of wind, useful humus is blown out of the soil. As a result, it becomes less fertile. Such land is no longer suitable for agricultural use. If soil erosion is not stopped in time, there is a risk of complete destruction of the soil layer.
4. Harmful fumes and gases. If something heavily pollutes the soil, there is a risk of accumulation of toxic elements on its surface. As a result, harmful gases and vapors are formed. Under the influence of hazardous elements, the soil cannot self-purify itself from pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, toxins accumulate in the soil structure, disrupting the development of crops and causing the death of seeds of tree crops. Deciduous plants are especially sensitive to harmful gases and fumes.
5. Violation of soil structure. Pollution of the surface layers of the soil provokes a change in its structure. As a result, the flora and fauna characteristic of this area disappears. There is also a risk of waterlogging, salinization, land depletion. A common cause of problems is the uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers. They cause soil pollution with nitrates and toxic elements.

Pollution of the soil layer provokes a change in its structure and a decrease in the level of important substances. At the same time, the content of harmful chemical components increases significantly.

This causes the death of earthworms and insects, which contribute to the restoration of soil fertility. Ecosystem change makes land unsuitable for agricultural use.

How to solve the problem

To solve the problem of soil pollution, you can use a variety of methods. All of them differ in certain features.

Modern methods of recycling and disposal

One of the ways to solve environmental problems is the construction of waste processing plants. This helps to minimize the negative impact of waste on the ground layers.

Waste is sorted during recycling. At the same time, metal, glass, plastic, paper, organics are distinguished. All substances, with the exception of organic waste, are sent for recycling and reused for production purposes.

Cleansing the soil

Harmful substances that penetrate the soil can be neutralized. Effective control measures include the following:

1. Physical ways. In this case, electric current is used for purification. It helps to remove phenols, oil products, hydrocarbons containing chlorine from the soil. The method is considered quite effective, but requires a lot of costs. Physical methods also include electrophoresis. It contributes to the neutralization of heavy metals and cyanides.
2. Chemical methods. In this case, solutions are used that contain surfactants. They wash the soil layers. Thanks to this, it is possible to clean the land from oil products. They give excellent results, but require a long restoration of the soil - up to 4 years.
3. Biological methods. For their use, plants are planted in contaminated areas that help cleanse the soil from cyanides, chromium, zinc, lead, and cob alt.Plants absorb harmful elements, accumulating them in their structure. Then they need to be collected and disposed of. It will take several years to fully clean the soil. Another type of biological treatment is considered to be the saturation of the soil with bacteria, which enhance the growth of beneficial organisms that destroy chemicals.

Land reclamation

To combat soil pollution, it is possible to carry out its reclamation. This is done after mining, waste disposal, construction. The main objectives of such events are considered to be the following:

• obtaining plots suitable for planting;
• creation of recreation areas;
• planting a forest belt;
• prevention of land desertification.

Agricultural measures

To clear the land of pesticides and other toxic elements, you can do the following:

• plant trees along the perimeter of the fields - this helps to reduce the blowing of the useful layer;
• alternate crops to prevent soil depletion;
• minimize tillage;
• reduce pesticide use;
• plowing the land across the slope - this measure reduces the washing out of the useful soil layer.

Use of alternative energy sources

To reduce the use of hazardous energy sources such as gas, coal and oil, you can switch to safer options:

• biofuel;
• solar energy;
• ebb and flow;
• wind;
• water.

Other effective methods

The development of non-waste production helps to reduce soil pollution. To do this, you need to switch to more modern equipment and use efficient treatment facilities.

Soil pollution is considered a dangerous environmental problem that leads to negative consequences for people. That is why it is so important to take action to combat this violation.

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